You need to make your roads safer and want to do so quickly and cost-effectively. After all, unsafe roads are a liability hanging over your head 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The right solutions are often easier and less expensive than you might think. But you’ll need to make some choices to move forward.  

Perhaps you are wondering whether to build your infrastructure from rubber, concrete or asphalt.   

Here at Vanguard, we understand the importance of reducing the risk of harm on the road network so that people get home safely each day in New Zealand.  

You can use a variety of materials to build road safety interventions, such as rubber, concrete and asphalt. At Vanguard, we supply a range of modular rubber systems, however, we know rubber is not always the best solution – it all depends on your project requirements.  

In this article, we’ll compare rubber, concrete and asphalt for road safety treatments, highlighting both the benefits and challenges of each. We’ll also cover off some important factors you might want to consider before making your choice 

By the end, you should better understand which material best fits your specific safety project needs and budget to keep people safe without breaking the bank. 

Let’s dive in. 

Rubber, concrete and asphalt: Weighing up the pros and cons  

Here we explore some things you need to know about using rubber, concrete, and asphalt treatments for your projects, including budget, traffic management, timeframes, maintenance, and community considerations.  

You can download our one-page summary ​​below as a reminder and if you have more questions, contact us for a consultation – let’s build a safer road network together. 

Rubber 

Vanguard’s rubber products are made from mostly recycled rubber and manufactured into modular pieces that can be configured to meet your design specifications. Rubber requires minimal installation skill and is quick to install, allowing the road to be reopened to traffic as soon as installed.  It can also be moved or reused, providing flexibility for projects.   

 

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages you’ll need to consider: 

Advantages: 

• Fast installation: Bolt rubber modules directly to the road surface in hours, minimising traffic disruption and management costs. 

• Cost-effective: Upfront costs can be similar to concrete, but overall project costs can be reduced with less traffic management and labour 

• Noise reduction: Absorbs sound, leading to quieter environments, which is great in residential areas. 

• Community support and design flexibility: Adapt rubber modules to suit your design, seek feedback then easily move them if needed, or reuse them for temporary projects or events. 

Disadvantages: 

• Durability: Heavy traffic may wear down modules faster than concrete and asphalt. 

• Repair: Prone to impact damage over time, but very easily replaced. 

• Limited load capacity: Not ideal for roads with heavy truck and industrial traffic. 

• Surface requirements: A good road surface is required before installation. If installed on a sub-par road surface with wear and tear it can move and cause further damage to the road. 

 

Modular rubber treatments are best for fast, low-impact installation with minimal traffic disruption (drill and go). They are the only material you can easily use for temporary solutions or trials to seek community engagement and feedback. 

 

Concrete 

Concrete is a strong and durable material.  It’s great for permanent treatments but not ideal if you are looking to trial or need to change the road layout in future.  

Advantages: 

• Durability: Can withstand heavy traffic loads, lasting longer than other materials. 

• Maintenance: Less frequent maintenance and repairs compared to asphalt and rubber  

• Load bearing: Strong load-bearing capabilities, suitable for heavy vehicle traffic. 

• Design: Easily moulded into various shapes for specific safety features, like traffic islands. 

Disadvantages: 

• Cost: Higher initial installation costs than asphalt, making it a more expensive option. 

• Rigidity: Less flexible than rubber, potentially leading to cracking over time. 

• Slippery when wet: Can become slick in wet conditions if not textured appropriately. 

• Long cure time: Takes longer to set and cure, delayed usability and longer disruption to road users. 

 

Concrete is best for large-scale, permanent projects that offer long-term, low maintenance. Its durability is ideal for high-volume traffic and heavy vehicles. 

Asphalt 

Asphalt is a composite material made from a mixture of aggregates (like sand and gravel) and a binder (bitumen) and used in roading due to its workability and cost-effectiveness. Asphalt offers a different set of features to work with:   

Advantages:

• Cost-effective: The material is cheaper upfront than concrete and rubber. Does need painting after it cures so can incur additional traffic management costs. 

• Quick installation: Laid and opened for use fairly quickly, minimising traffic disruption. Painting does increase time. 

• Smooth surface: Smooth surface enhances driver comfort with less vehicle wear. 

• Flexibility: Despite being rigid, it can handle some movement better than concrete. 

 

Disadvantages:

• Durability: Requires more frequent repair and resurfacing than concrete, especially in high-traffic areas. 

• Environmental impact: Production and degradation can have negative environmental impacts, such as leaching harmful chemicals. Can be recycled and reused. 

• Softening in heat: Extremely high temperatures can soften, leading to ruts and deformations. 

• Limited pedestrian safety features: May need additional treatments (like rubber or concrete) to improve pedestrian safety. 

 

Asphalt is best for budget-conscious projects with a quick installation. The lifespan, depending on traffic type and volumes, is around the 10-year mark, requiring regular maintenance.  

Here is a simple comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of using rubber concrete and asphalt to build road safety infrastructure:  

Road safety projects: What do they really cost? 

Road safety improvements are vital, but the initial cost isn’t the whole story.  Choosing the right materials and construction methods requires a careful assessment of the total cost of ownership, not just the upfront expense.  While an initially cheaper material might seem attractive, hidden costs can quickly inflate your budget and impact the long-term viability of your project. 

Here are some factors that will influence the overall cost: 

• upfront material cost 

• temporary traffic management  

• installation time  

• construction costs  

• ongoing maintenance. 

 

Beyond the sticker price: Uncovering hidden costs 

When planning your project it’s easy to be swayed by the upfront material costs.  However, several other factors significantly influence the overall project expenditure.  These hidden costs can dramatically alter the perceived value of different materials and approaches.  

Key factors impacting overall cost: 

Upfront material cost: This is the most obvious cost, varying significantly between materials like rubber, concrete, and asphalt.  Rubber and concrete generally have higher initial costs than asphalt. 

Temporary traffic management:  The duration and complexity of traffic management plans heavily impact costs.  Projects requiring extensive lane closures or significant traffic diversions will incur greater expenses.  The duration of installation for different materials directly impacts traffic management costs.  A quick installation minimises disruption and expense. Rubber is the quickest, with asphalt and concrete requiring more preparation work and curing time. 

Installation time: Labor costs are directly tied to installation time.  Materials with simpler installation processes, such as rubber modules, generally require less labour and time, resulting in lower costs.  Concrete, requiring longer curing time and more complex installation, leads to higher labour expenses. Rubber can be installed in hours;  asphalt is somewhere in the middle. 

Construction costs: Beyond labour, consider equipment rental, site preparation, and potential unforeseen complications during installation.  These costs can fluctuate depending on the project’s complexity and location. 

Ongoing maintenance: This is a critical, often overlooked factor.  Some materials, like asphalt, require more frequent maintenance and repairs than others.  Rubber modules offer the advantage of easy replacement of individual units, while concrete boasts long-term durability with minimal maintenance needs.  Consider the lifecycle costs and potential for premature failure when assessing materials. 

 

Material comparison: A holistic view 

A simple comparison of upfront material costs might suggest asphalt is the most cost-effective. However, when considering the complete picture: 

Rubber: While initially more expensive than asphalt, its rapid installation minimises traffic management and labour costs, placing it in a mid-range cost position.  The ease of repairing or relocating damaged modules further reduces long-term expenses. The benefit of using it for a trial means it is the only material that can offer real-time community feedback and adaptation of the design, or easy removal if it does not work. 

Concrete: Concrete features higher upfront and labour costs due to longer curing times and more complex installation procedures.  However, its exceptional durability translates to very low to no maintenance costs over its long lifespan. 

Asphalt:  Falls into the mid-range cost bucket.  Faster to install than concrete, but still requires pouring, forming, drying, and painting. It may need additional safety features (rubber or concrete) in pedestrian areas to improve its effectiveness.  Regular maintenance, including potential replacement every 10 years, adds to the overall cost. 

Making informed decisions 

As you’ve seen, looking solely at the initial cost of materials can lead to expensive mistakes that you can easily avoid. To make the best choice for your road safety project, consider the complete cost picture.  This includes upfront material expenses, traffic management costs, installation time, construction overheads, and ongoing maintenance requirements. 

 

Move your project forward: Get expert guidance! 

We get that there are a lot of things to consider when it comes to choosing what materials to build road safety infrastructure on your network. 

Contact our team of experts for personalised guidance tailored to your specific needs and budget. We strongly recommend obtaining a detailed quotation before making any final decisions.  Don’t let hidden costs derail your road safety improvements!